Paper-fastener.



A. 0. IRWIN.

PAPER FASTENER. APPLICATION mgl) )uns l5. 19:6.

y Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

ASA O. IRWIN, 0F FORT MILLS, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

PAPER-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 191.7.

VApplication filed J' une 15, 1916. Serial No. 103,832.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ASA O. IRWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Mills, Philippine Islands, have inA vented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention. relates to improvements in paper fasteners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of paper fasteners or clips and to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive paper `fastener adapted to be easily manufactured by stamping it or pressing it from sheet metal and bending it into shape and capable of being easily and quickly operated to fasten together a plurality of sheets of paper and of rmly locking itself in engagement with the same.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a paper fastener of this character provided with opposite po-inted prongs or tongues adapted to pierce the sheets or pieces of paper from opposite sides and capable of being easily pressed together without liability of pricking the fingers of the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a paper fastener of this character in which the projections or prongs are disposed transversely of the device for easily piercing the paper and which will cause the prongs to straighten or flatten out and form a lock.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the yconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the 'form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the vspirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of a paper fastener constructed in accordance with this invention, the tongue or prong being straight to illustrate the manyner of cutting the same, Fig; 2 is a similar view of the opposite side of the paper fastener illustrating the arrangement of the reversely disposed tongue or prong, Fig. 3 is an edge view, the tongues or prongs being curved and arranged for perforating a plu rality of sheets or pieces of paper, Fig. Ll is a longitudinal sectional view showing the tongues partly iiattened or straightened out to form a lock.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing. Y

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the paper fastener consists of a narrow strip of sheet metal bent centrally to form tw'o sides or legs l and 2 and a connecting bend or portion 3, the sides or legs being preferably stifl'ened previous to such bending operation by stamping or otherwise forming a marginal rib 4 which is preferably raised or projecting at the outer faces of the sides or members of the fastener which are adapted to present flat inner faces to the papers 5 to be fastened together.

The fastener is shown exaggerated in the accompanying drawing for convenience of illustration and the leg or member l is provided with a pointed prong or tongue 6 formed by partially severing the metal and connected at its lower end with the leg or member from which it is cut and extending longitudinally of the same before bending the prong or tongue 6 inwardly. The other leg or member 2 is provided with a tapered prong or tongue 7 formed by cutting and partially severing the metal from the said leg or member 2 and extending downwardly toward the lower end thereof. The slits or incisions in the legs or members extend longitudinally thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing and the prongs or tongues are reversely curved and bent inwardly, the prong 6 extending upwardly slightly and the prong 7 extending downthe openings from which they were cut and at the solid or imperforate portions of the opposite leg or member so that there is no liability of the operator accidentally vpricking his fingers by forcing the tongue of one leg or member through the opening of the V other leg or member.

In practice, the paper fastener or clip will be squeezed to a flat practically solid closed position, the pliability of the metal permitting this operation and it will be seen that the tongue by being straightened or flattened out as shown, that is the tongue G being extended upwardly and the tongue 7 downwardly there is no liability of rupturing or fracturing the metal at the root or point of connection of theV tongue with the leg or member. 'Ihe arrangement of the tongues in their locking position opposite the openings from which theywere cut will permit a more perfect locking action and a secure fastening of the sheets of paper is thereby effected.

The sides or legs are adapted to be squeezed or compressed between the fingers for perforating the sheets of paper and forcing the tongues into their locked or engaging position.

What is claimed is A paper fastener consisting `of a single piece of sheet metal bent to form two legs or members, said legs or members being reverseh cut ,fto form; a. pair of coacting pointed tongues or prongs located opposite each other and bent inwardly, said tongues or prongs being reyersely` curved and each tongue or prong presenting a concave surface to the other tongue or prong whereby the tongues or prongs are straightened out and are caused to lie opposite the openings from which they were cut to form a lock.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASA O. IRWIN.

W'itnesses: y

J. H. STERN, GONZALO SAENZ.

. Copies of this patent may ne obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

f Washington, E. C. 

